Harvard and HBS: The Next 100 Years

Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust reflected on Harvard Business School's past 100 years and shared her vision of the future, while HBS Dean Jay Light discussed the School's history and highlighted key focus areas for the future.

Editor's Note: This is a summary of an HBS Business Summit presentation. View a full summary and video of the event on the HBS Centennial Web site linked below.

Date of Event:

October 14, 2008

Speakers:

Jay O. Light, Dean of HBSDrew Gilpin Faust, President of Harvard University

President Faust reflected on Harvard Business School's past 100 years and shared a visionary perspective for the types of leaders that the School should aspire to produce, while Dean Light discussed the School's history and highlighted key focus areas for the future. Throughout the past 100 years, HBS has been at the forefront of business education. As it contemplates how to educate future business leaders, it should aspire to go beyond just teaching students to make a living or be the best at their professions; HBS must create leaders who have the vision, knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities to "build cathedrals." This entails educating leaders who make a difference not just in the world, but for the world. As the institution looks ahead to the next century, there are key areas where new work is planned: The School must become more global, and must devote attention to knowledge-based businesses. In addition, it must collaborate with other schools at Harvard, and cultivate a faculty and student body that can react to economic crises like the current one.

Key concepts include:

At this time of crisis, we must consider the lessons of the past as we confront the future.

The types of business leaders that HBS desires to create are those with a broad vision who recognize the interconnectedness of the world.

In educating future business leaders, HBS should keep in mind the types of leadership traits that are most important.

Harvard Business School began as a "delicate experiment" during a time of deep recession.

In today's crowded marketplace of MBA programs, Harvard Business School remains distinctive.

The intellectual agenda for Harvard Business School must become even more global.

In coming years, knowledge-based businesses will form the backbone of the economy and must be a primary area of focus at HBS.

In many ways, the business school is at the center of Harvard.

Moving forward, focus must be placed on cultivating a faculty and student body that can react effectively to economic crises.

Harvard Business School must continue to promote the five elements that are essential for leadership: developing judgment, having an entrepreneurial perspective, using good communication skills, behaving with integrity, and having the courage to act.